"How about kids instead of looking to someone else to solve their problem, do something about maybe taking CPR classes or trying to deal with situations that when there is a violent shooter that you can actually respond to that," Santorum said on "State of the Union."

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Santorum also criticized protestors at yesterday's March for Our Lives events around the nation.

"They didn't take action to say how do I, as an individual, deal with this problem?" he continued. "'How am I going to do something about stopping bullying within my own community? What am I going to do to actually help respond to a shooter?'"

When CNN commentator Van Jones suggested he'd rather have his high school-aged child focus on math and not CPR classes, Santorum replied that "everyone should be responsible and deal with the problems that we have to confront in our lives."

"Ignoring those problems and saying they're not going to come to me and saying some phony gun law is gonna solve it," Santorum said. "Phony gun laws don't solve these problems."

Santorum's comments quickly drew rebuke. Erica Lafferty, daughter of the principal slain at Sandy Hook and current program manager of Everytown for Gun Safety, issued this statement:

"Rick Santorum's words are an insult to the kids of Parkland, my family and to the countless others who have had loved ones taken by gun violence. My mother was killed while protecting her students at Sandy Hook School. For anyone to suggest that the solution to gun violence is for kids to learn CPR is outrageous, and indicative of the NRA's desire to do or say anything except strengthen America's weak gun laws."